Record controlling means



July 30, 1935.

E. A. JOHNSTON RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets-PSheet 1 July. 30, 1935- E. A. JOHNSTON RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS l0 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 9, 1929 Int/677157- lEZZwam' J1. Jhnsion w y 23 oil/ 5 i July 30, 1935. E, A. JOHNSTON 2,009,806 I RECDRD CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 9, 1929 1o Shets-Sheet s FLIZStOTL E. A. JOHNSTON RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS 4 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 9', 1929 I Edward #1 J5 July 30, 1935.

July 30, 1935. E. A. JOHNSTON 9,

' RECORD CONTROLLINGlMEANS -Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 30, 1935. E A. JOHNSTON 9,

RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 6 [Ia/677165" Edward L71 azvhnsiqn.

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y 1935- E. A. JOHNSTON 2,009,806

RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets Sheet 7 July 30, 1935. E. A JOHNSTON RECORD CONTROLLING MEAN S Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 JnUeTiZE; Edward 0%, \jbhnsion.

E. A. JOHNSTON 2 009306 RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 Edward U1 @hnsion.

July 30 1935. E. A. JOHNSTON mw RECORD CONTROLLING MEANS Filed May 9, 1929 10 Sheets-Sheef 1o Patented July, 30, 1935 t I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE .amsec Edward: A Johnston, Chicago, Ill. Application May 9, 1929, Serial No. 361,638 49 Claims. ((1214-10) The present invention relates to record con- 'ing platen and discharge said records from said trolling means. platen with a gravity reed.

More particularly the present invention relates I A further object is to provide record controlto means for successively supplying records to ling means which will'handle a plurality of recthe playing platen of a phonograph. ords in succession, causing said records to play '5 According to-the present invention, a plurality to the full length of the playing groove, to stop. of records may be-placecl in position in a phonothe phon raph w n t pl y groove of sa d aph and said records will be supplied in suerecord has been Comp y traversed, to scession to the playing platen and successively charge said record and to supply another record discharged from said platen. to the playing platen regardless of the internal 10 An object of the present invention is to prodiameter of the playing grooves-of said records vide a phonograph or an accessory for phoand regardless oi! whether or not the record is nograph which will handle records automatically equippedtwith the u l p i l r o ppin ina'safe manner, whereby rough handling of said groove as p vid d On certain phonograph r records is avoided. a ords in common use.

A'further object is to provide a phonograph A f r r Object i to provid an improved or an accessory therefor which will automatically ph nograph having a inclined p y n platen in handle a plurality of records in succession reic y tendency toward undue p y e gardlessof the size and type of said records so p hy ll n dl 1' i phono rap against the long as said records are disk records of commere Walls 01' the groove 0 the reiibl'd being P y 20 played.

eial sizes and types. will be prevented.

A further object is'to provide record control- A r e Object 1 to Pr a p o p ling means for handling disk records which having 5111819 motor p at e various automatically feed said records to the playinginstrumentalitiesfor controlling a plurality oi' platen, start said platen in operation, and stop d n c on, as a ove referred to, which 25 V the platen at the end'oi' a record regardless of phonograph so distributes the load on said motor difierences in intemal diameter of the playing hat only a relatively small motor is r q ir dgroove and regardless of whether said playing Furth r bjects will app ar as t d scriptio groove terminates in a spiral, ellipse, or other proceeds. 3o shape, as found on commercial records for rec-- Referring to the i fl -ord stopping purposes. g Figure 1 is a view in elevation, parts being A further object is to provide record controlling roken way, Showing a phonograph embodyi means for a phonograph which will automatically he principl s f he P s n i n safely position a plurality of records successively Figure 2 is a sectional view taken along the upon the playing. platen of said phonograph replanes indicated by the arrows 22 of'Flgure 1; 35

gardless of the sizeo i said records within the lim- Fi u e 3 is B Sect a V taken along h its of size at present encountered in commerce. -planes indicatedby the arrows 33 of Figures A further oli'ject is to provide record control- 2 and .t v e ling means/for successively feeding a plurality of Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the 49 records to a playing platen of a phonogra h, planes indicated by the arrows 4-4 of Figure 2; which controlling means-has the advantage that Fi r 5 is a cti v ew taken along he atlthe option of the operator any record may Plane indicated Y' armws of Figure 3; be repeated one or more times by a simple ma- Figures is sectional e t e ,along the nipulation while the-particular record is being glongssindlcoted by the arrows of Figures t an A A further obiecaadditional to the last menure 7 is a sect o al view taken along the tioned object, is to providea construction whereby Planes indicated y e arrows 01 Figure the operator may reject ann-record wmie' it is F ur 8 is-a s ti al v w ta along the. 0 being played and automatically cause the'con"l indicated yt arrows H 1' Figures trolling means to feed another record to. the m; playing platen. Q X Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the A further object is to provide record controlplanes indicated by the arrows 9-9 of 2; .li'ng means for a phonograph which will supply Figure 10 is a perspective view illustrating a a plurality of records suooessivelrto" the playportion or the tone arm or a p ono raph and 5 mechanism associated therewith for controlling the records above referred to;

Figure 11 is a view on an enlarged scale of part of the mechanism shown in Figure 5;

' Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along the planes indicated by the arrows l2-l2 of Figure 1 planes indicated by the arrows l3l3 of Figures 4 and 5;

Figure 14 is a perspective view of record separating mechanism forming part ofthe present invention whereby insurance is had that only one record at a time will be supplied to the playing platen;

Figure 15 illustrates a cam for operating the tone arm of the phonograph above referred to, which cam has'the function of moving said tone arm outwardly away from the axis of a record upon the playing platen after said record has been played; N

Figure 16 is a. view of a disk for carrying pawl I means for controlling a cam shaft, to be referred to in detail hereinafter, and also shows a cam groove for controlling the lifting and lowering of the tone arm to and'from record playing posi- Figure 1'? represents a cam for controlling centering means for a record on'the playing .plateri, and also shows cam means for eliminating danger of interference between said record and said centering means when the playing of said record, is to be repeated;

Figure 18 shows a cam for controlling the driving connection between the motor and the platen;

Figure 19 illustrates a cam controlling the feed of records successively from a reservoir to the playing platen;

Figure 20 represents a cam for operating the center pin or the playing platen and for controlling means' for separating the records in the reservoir preparatory to the supplying of one ofsaid .records from said reservoir to the playing platen;

' Figure 21'is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 2 i--2l of Figure 6; Figure 22 is a sectional view taken along the plane indicated by the arrows 2222 of Figure 6; Figures 23, 24, 25 and 26 illustrate mechanism operable to cause the repeating of the playing of a record; and i Figure 27 is a diagram illustrating a preferred cycle of operation of the instrumentalities illus- Qrated in the preceding figures.

Before proceeding with a detailed description of the parts illustrated in theabove mentioned figures, a short outline will be given of the functions performed by said parts.v

The present invention contemplates structure which will occupy a minimum of space. A reservoir is provided for carrying a plurality of records, which records may be of practically any of the sizes within the limits encountered in practice at the present time. Records of certain well known manufacture have their playing grooves terminating in a sharp spiral for the purpose of cooperating with certain stop mechanism-. for stopping the playing platen when the record has been completely played. Other records of well known manufacture provide an elliptical groove at the inner terminus of the playing groove for grooves of other shapes for cooperation with particular stop. mechanisms cooperating with the Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along the onto the playing platen.

playing platen. Still other records, particularly? a complete circular turnsfor receiving the needle after said needle has completely traversed the playing groove. The present invention contemplates structure for handling records of all sizes now found in practice and records provided with the special grooves referred to hereinabove, or records which are not provided'with any of said special grooves at the terminus of the playing groove. The present invention contemplates a gravity feed from the record reservoir to the playing platen, and the structure at present preferred contemplates a drop bottom for said reservoir, together with record separating means, whereby the bottom record in said reservoir will be allowed, upon the operation of certain instrumentalities, to gravitate from said reservoir Said playing platen preferably occupies a plane inclined to the horizontal. The present invention also contemplates centering means which will automatically center the record upon the playing platen after said record has gravitated to-said playing platen, will move the tone arm to the correct starting position corresponding to the particular record being centered, and will insert the center pin through the central hole commonly found in phonograph records of the disk type. The present invention also contemplates means for setting the playing platen in operation and for feeding the needle of the sound box to the playing groove of the phonograph record. After said needle has engaged said groove, said needle and the tone arm which carries said needle will be moved toward the axis of the record by reason of said engagement, in accordance with usual practice. According to the present invention, the playing groove of the record upon the playing platen will be completely traversed and the playing platen will be stopped regardless of the internal and external diameters of the annular band covered by the playing groove of the record upon the playing platen. To this end, means are provided for causing a follower member to enter into cooperative "relationship with a moving member whereby the record willbe stopped after having been played, whether or not said record is provided with a groove extending sufllciently close to the axis of rotation for that purpose. The particular mechanism for this purpose has the advantage that no interference is had between the follower member above other hand, the playing groove or special groove at the terminus of the playing groove is not sumcient for this purpose, other means will come into play to carry certain stopping mechanism to rec'- ord stopping position. The present invention also contemplates means for lifting the phonograph needle, from the record after said record has been played, for releasing said record so that said record may gravitate into a storage space provided for that purpose, and for positively moving the tone arm outwardlyaway from the axis of rotation of the playing platen, ready for cooperation with the next record to be played. The present invention also contemplates means once or indefinitely at the' 'option of-the operator and whereby any particular record may be discharged from the playing platen at anytime during the playing thereof at the option of the operator, which discharge will be followed by the feeding of another record from the storage res.-

ervoir to the playing platen. 1

Referring now to a detailed description of the apparatus, a phonograph cabinet is indicated by the numeral 25, which cabinet is provided with the lid 25, which, in accordance with usual practice, may be swung upwardly to allow access to the top portion of th'e'cabinet 25. Disposed in the upper portion of the cabinet 25 is the support 21, which in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is disposed in a slanting position. Said support 21 may extend substantially to the righthand wall of .the cabinet 25. At the left. side of the cabinet 25, the support is stopped short, the left-hand extremity of said support being provided with a sheet metal guide member 28, which cooperates with the bracket 29. Said sheet metal guide member 28 and bracket 29 form a pocket, indicated by the numeral 30, for the reception of phonograph records after said records have been played.

Carried by the support 21 is the base plate 3|, which base plate has secured thereto the motor 32 and other mechanism which will be referred to more in detail presently. The support 21 is provided with an aperture, the boundaries f which are indicated in Figure 8 by the numerals 33-33. Said aperture 33 provides an opening for certain mechanism for supporting the motor 32 (Figure 1) and certain control mechanism, which will be referred to presently. The motor 32 has a shaft 34 (Figures 6 and 8), whichshaft -is disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the support 21 and the base plate 3|. Secured to said shaft 34 intermediate of its length (Figure 8) is the motor clutch element 35, which has cooperatively associated therewith the platen platenahousing 31 and is provided with a clearance space 39, which space provides clearance for a downwardly extending stud 48 extending ,from the under side of the center plate 49a.

which is secured to the platen 38 centrallythereof. Said stud 40 provides material for a seat for a record center pin, to be referred to presently. The housing 31 of the platen 38 preferably has roller bearing assemblies 4l-4l mounted interiorly thereof, the inner peripheral walls 'of which roller bearing. assemblies are slidably mounted upon the shaft 34. The platen 38 is adapted to be raised by a pair of pads 42-42 (Figures andv 6 whichpads are responsive to the movement of a pair of lifting levers 43--43 (Figures 3, 5, 6 and 8), which lifting levers are movable in response to mechanism which will be referred to in detailhereinafter.

According to a preferred embodimen'fl'of present invention, the base plate 3l-provides supporting means for all of the mechanism for op,-

crating the platen 38 and for controlling the reciords to be supplied to'said platen and discharged therefrom. By reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the base plate 3| supports a holding plate 44, said holding plate being shown as sup ported by bolts 45-45, spacing sleeves 48 being provided for securing the holding plate in rigid position. Secured to the holding plate 44 are the bearing bracket 41 and the bearing bracket 48. Said bearing brackets form supporting means for a shaft 49 disposed in parallel relationship with.

the holding plate 44. Said shaft 49 is disposed coaxially with a plurality of cam members for I of brackets 56-50, which brackets at their lower extremities support a pivot plate 5|, which pivot rod provides pivotal mounting means for certain levers, to be referred to in detail presently.

A plurality of cams, disposed coaxially of the shaft 49, have been illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17,

'18, 19 and 20. Sectional views of said cams appear in Figure 4. Other views of said cams appear in other figures and will be mentioned in the further description of the apparatus. For convenience, the cams referred to have been indicated by the letters A, B, C, D} E, F and G.

With reference to Figure 4, it will be noted that the cam A, is rigidly.-secured to the shaft 49 at one extremity thereof by meansof the setscrew 52. Said cam A is, disposed at the left-hand side of the bearing bracket 41, which bearing bracket, it will be noted, is provided with the bearing sleeve 53 for rotatabiy receiving the shaft '49.,

Also. rigidly secured to the shaft 49 is the pawl disk 54, which pawl disk is provided on its lefthand side with the cam groove B. The pawl disk 54 is secured in place upon the shaft 49 by means of the setscrew 54a. Said pawl disk has pivotedthereto near its peripherycertain pawlmechanismfindic'a'ted as a whole by thenumeral 55'. Said pawl mechanism includes the toothed member 56 and the abutment member 51' (Figures 5 and, 13). By reference to Figure 13-it will be' noted that said members 56 and 51 swing about the pin 58 and are resiliently connected together by means of the spring '59. The pawl mechanism 55 is urged inwardly of the pawl disk 54 by means.

of the spring (Figures 3, 4, 5- and 16). From an-inspection of Figure -16 it will be noted that the spring 80 has one of its extremities secured to the pin 6| projecting from the pawl disk 54 and has its other extremity secured to the pin 62, which pin 62 extends through an aperture 83 in pawl disk 54; said aperture 63 being of suflicient size to allow the necessary oscillating movement of the pawl mechanism 55.

The pawl mechanism 55-is adapted to cooper- I ate with the ratchet disk. 64, which ratchet, disk, it will be noted from an inspection of Figure 4, is rigidly secured to the sleeve 65 journaled upon the shaft 49-. Also secured to the sleeve s5 is the drum 63, which drum is provided with a spiral groove. Keyed to the sleeve is the worm wheel 61, through which power is communicated to the sleeve 65 from the motor 32 j through power transmitting mechanism which the will be described presently. i

Referring further to Figure 4,- it will .be-noted that the cam C (see also.Figur e 17) -is disposed immediately to the right of the sleeve 55, Said ference between the rotating record and cam C is' rigidly secured; by means of the setto be connected to and disconnected from said sleeve 88 by means of mechanism illustratedin' Figure 21, which mechanism will be described presently. Asclearly shown in Figure 1, the sleeve 68 has its bearing in the bearing brack- The various instrumentalities for operating the cam shaft or master control member 48 and associated cams and the instrumentalities responsive to movement of said cams will now be described.

The numeral 18 indicates a holding member for phonograph records to be played; Preferably,

said holding member, which for convenience of description will be referred to hereinafter as a reservoir, is sufficiently large to hold a dozen or more records. As indicated in Figure 8 said reservoir is disposed in an inclined position at a j level higher than theplaten 38. Said reservoir I8 is provided with a drop bottom I which may be a sheet metal member; Said drop bottom is hinged about the axis-l2. Said drop bottom H has secured thereto a pair ofangle members 13-13 (Figures 2, 8 and 9), which angle members converge, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 2. The converging extremities of said angle members 13-43 are indicated by the numerals 14-14. Between the extremities 14-44 is the g strengthening rib or brace 15, which. is riveted or otherwise secured to the drop bottom 1|. Said extremities '|4-|4 and the brace 15 are secured together and carry the roller I8, which roller cooperates with the cam F. As will be referred to more in detail hereinafter, said cam F holds the dropbottom 1| in closed position, except during a short interval of time when a record is to be discharged from the reservoir 18. Asindicated in Figure 2, the top portion of the reservoir 18 comprises a wall member 11, rounded atits lowermost portion.- The wall member 11 'should be 'of suflicient .size to take the-largest disk records intended to be used in the phonograph. The wall member I1 is carried by the base plate 3|,

feet 18 being provided for that purpose, said feet records 18.

spacing said wall member a sufficient distance above the base plate 3| to permit the full dropping action of the drop bottom Said feet I8 are secured rigidly to the base plate 3|. Said reservoir is shown in Figures 2 and 9 as holding It is, of course, necessary that only one record at a time shall be allowed to gravitate out of the reservoir 18. To insure this action, a pairof dividing plates 88-88 are provided, which dividing plates extend through corresponding apertures in the wall 11. Said dividing plates 88-88 are mounted within brackets "Ia-88a in positionv to move in a plane parallel with the drop bottom II when said drop bottom is in closed position, but are spaced above said drop bottom a sufficient distance to underlie the next to the bottom disk record lying upon said drop bottom Said dividing plates 88'88 should have a sumcient range of action to separate the bottom disk record from the one lying immediately above.

it, regardless of the position of said records within the reservoir 18. The mechanism for controlling the dividing plates 88-88 is shown. in

perspective in Figure 14. By reference to said figure it will b noted that said dividing plates have secured t ereto the lever arms 8| and 82, which lever arms are pivoted intermediate of the axis 88 and its particular dividing plate 88 about the axis 84, the base plate 3| comprising the pivotal support for said lever arms 8| and 82. The lever arm 8| is extended, as indicated by the numeral 85, said extension beingbifurcated. Between the-bifurcations of the extremity 88 there is located one extremity of the crank 88. Said crank 86 is pivoted upon the pivot rod 8| (Figure 4). Said crank has the extended wall portion 81 provided with the slot 88" adapted to receive the crank pin 88. Said crank pin 88 is carried by the cam G at a region spaced from the axis of rotation of said cam G. It will be clear that as the cam G rotates, an oscillating movement will be communicated to the crank 88, which oscillatng movement will be communicated to the extension 85 of the lever 8|, which lever swings about the axis 84 (Figure 14). By reason of the pivotal connection of lever 82 to lever 8| about the axis 83, a similar oscillating movement will be communicated to said lever 82.

It will be clear, therefore, that oscillating move-- the numeral 88, which tone arm is provided with the sound box 8| having the needle 82 (Figure 3). The tone arm 88 may connect, through a flexible connection (not shown) to the horn (not shown) of the phonograph, or the diaphragm of the sound box 8| may have its pulsations transmitted in any other preferred way, as for example through an electrical pick-up involving the use of radio tubes. said pulsations form no part of the present in- -vention. By'reference to Figure 10, the means for mounting the tone arm 88 will be clear. The numeral 88 indicates a tone arm bracket, which bracket includes the arm portion 84 mounted to swing in a plane parallel with the platen 88, which plane, it will be remembered, is inclined to the horizontal. The arm portion 84 of the tone arm bracket has a pair of upstanding ears 85-48, which ears pivotally support the tone arm 88 by means of the pins 86, one of which is-indicated in Figure 10. Said tone arm 88 is thereby perangles to'the platen 38. The tone arm 88 and the tone ar'm bracket 83 are also adapted to swing about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the platen 38'. The pivotal mounting means for providing the swinging action last referred to includes the rod 81, which rod is rotatably mounted, being disposed (Figures 3 and 10) between the lower bracket 88 and the upper bracket 88 forming part of the wall portion ll of the record reservoir 18. By reference to Figure 3 it will be noted that the lower extremity of the rod 81 cooperates with a pivot I88 and the upper extremity of said rod 81 cooperates with the threaded pivot pin MI. The tone arm casting 88 is provided with the counterweight I82, which counterweight is disposed in the same plane as the neutral axis of the tone arm 88,'which plane is normal to the plane of the platen 88. Said counterweight I82 The means for transmitting 1 said playing groove.

is disposed upon a rod I03 (Figures 3 and 10) and the position of said counterweight may be ad- Justed by manipulation of the setscrew I04. The rod 91 is connected to-the tone arm bracket 93 by means of the cross rod I05 (Figure 10), which cross rod.is joumaled in the ears 9595 of the tone arm bracket 93.

Under normal playing conditions the tone arm\ 90 should, of course, be free to swing vertically about the pins 98 to conform to the playing groove of the record being played. According to the present invention, the tone arm bracket 93 is provided with means for lifting said tone arm from its normal playing position, swinging said tone arm about the axis of the cross rod I05. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be noted that the tone arm bracket 93 has extending therefrom the shelf I08 in a position to underlie thetone arm 90. Said shelf I08 is provided with a screwthreaded aperture for the reception of a setscrew I01, which setscrew may be locked in predetermined position by means of the lock nut I08. The upper extremity of the set'screw I01 underlies a flexible, spring-like member I09, best shown in Figure 2, which member is connected to the wall portion II of the adjacent reservoir 10. When the tone arm bracket 93 is swung a short distance in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure3, the setscrew I01, by reason of its lifting action upon the flexible member I09, will swing the tone arm out of its operative Thebraking relationship between the flexible member I09 and the tone arm 90 is necessary only when the tone arm is in its outermostfposition preparatory to depositing of the needle 92 carried by said tone arm into the playing groove of the record or into the spiral groove leading to In order, to prevent the braking relationship referred to at other times, the flexible member I09 may be provided with the slot I09a (Fig. 2), whereby said flexible member I09 will be ineffective to perform holding functions with reference to the tone arm 90, except when said tone arm is in the outer portion of its rangeof travel parallel to the platen 38.

The means for tilting the tone arm bracket 93 includes an arm H0 pivoted to said bracket 93.

Said bracket carries at its swinging extremity a roller III riding in the cam groove B (Figures 3,10 and 16);,

The means for moving the tone arm 90 outwardly after a record has been played includes the cam A.(Figures 3, 4 and 15). Pivoted to the bearing bracket 41 (Figure 3) is the lever II2, which lever is pulled in a counter-clockwise direction, as the parts are viewed in Figure 3, by

means of the spring I'I2a. Intermediate of the length of the lever H2 is the roller 4 adapted to engage theperiphery oi cam A. Theupper extremity of the lever. I I2 is adapted to engage the tone arm bracket 93, whereby when the high portion of cam A engagesroller II4 the upper extremity of said lever [12 will move said tone arm bracket 83 in a direction to swing the tone arm outwardly; The cam-A is so related to the cam groove 13 that the-outward swinging of the tone arm 90 will be had only after the tone arm has been tilted out of its operativeplaying posi tion.

to be raised and lowered,automatically, being lowered either simultaneously with or subsequently to the centering of a record upon the playing platen 38 and being raised after a record has been played in order that said record may gravitate from the playing platen 38. From an inspection of-Figure 4 it will be noted that the center pin I I3 is rotatably carried by the plunger II5, which plunger is adapted to have a sliding movement within the sleeve II5a carried attheextremity of the arm II8. By reason of the rotatable mounting of the center pin II3 said cen ter pin, the platen and-the record carried by said platen are adapted to rotateas a unit, the center pin being carried around as said platen rotates. Said arm H8 is rigidly carried by the base plate 3!. One side of the sleeve II5a is slotted, as indicated by the numeral 1, to permit a reciprocatory movement of the operating member I I8, the swinging extremity of which has a rolling engagement with the plunger H5. The operating member I I8 in a preferred embodiment of the present invention is substantially U-shaped in contour, the lower leg of said operating member being indicated by the numeral 9, the upper leg being indicated by the numeral I20, and the intermediate-portion being indicated by the numeral I2I. Said intermediate portion I2I is pivoted to the arm H8 at the point I22. The spring I23 normally biases the operating member H8 in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 4, which is to say that said spring has a normal tendency to urge the centerpin I I3 into engagement with the platen 38. The

lower leg I I9 is pivotally connected to a lever I24 (Figures 4 and 8), the pivotal connection between leg H9 and lever I24 being hidden from view in Figure 4. -Said lever I24 (see Figurev 8) is fu1-. crumed to swing about the axis I28, being pivotally supported by the bracket I21 depending from the base plate 3L Intermediate of its ends, said lever I24 has the roller I28 rotatably carried thereby, which roller I28 cooperates with the cam G. When a high part of said cam G engages the roller I28, the lever I24 will be swung in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 8, which movement, by reason of the pivotal connectionof lever I24 with the lower leg II9 of the operating member I I8, will result in the lifting of the center pin H3. I

, The present invention contemplates means for lifting the platen 38 after a record has been playedand for discharging said record, unless instrumentalities to be referred to later are placed in position to cause the repeating of the playing of said record. The lifting of the platen 38 is accomplished by instrumentalities including the cam E (Figures 6 and 1a); Said cam E cooperates with the roller I29 mounted at an extremity of the lever I30. Said lever is rotatably supported by the brackets I3II3I, which brackets are rigid with the base plate 3|. The lifting levers 43-43 above referred to (Figures 3, 5, 6 and 8) are rigid with respect to lever I38, being, in effect, bifurcations of said lever I30. When a high part of said cam Eengages said roller I29, the lifting levers 43-43 will be moved in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed inFigure 6, resulting in an upward pressure upon the pads 42- -42 (Figures 5 and 6). Said pads 42-42 are, secured to the swinging extremities said platen is in its normal playing position. Said cam E is adapted, however, to swing the lifting levers in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 6,'to lift said pads to raise the platen 38, and by the same action separate the platen clutchelement 36 from the motor clutch element 35 (Figure 8) Said pads 32-42, therefore, operate to declutch the platen from the driving motor and to serve as brakes to stop the motion of the platen. I Inasmuch as the platen 38 is disposed in a positioninclined to the horizontal, a record upon said platen 38 will have a tendency to slide therefrom as soon as the center pin II3 (Figure 4) is drawn upwardly. The raising of the platen 33 as above referred to will lift the record upon said platen to a level suflicient to clear certain centering pins (to be distinguished from the center pin I I3), which will be referredto presently. The

N I raising of said platen 36 will elevate the record upon said platen'to a suflicient extent so that said record will slide down upon the sill or block I33 (Figure 1). Said sill or block has a'rounded portion adjacent to thepocket 30, which will said pockehwithout interference with the centering pins referred to. I 1 The cam E is so designed. that after the record upon the platen 36 has had an opportunity to gravitate therefrom, the lever arms. 43-43 will be depressed (due to the gravity thereof and the influence of the cantilever springs I32-.I32) sufflciently to allow the,platen to lower almost but not quite to the position in which the platen clutch element 36 engages with the motor clutch element-35(Figure 8). At this time the cam F (Figures 8 and 19) is operative to permit thedropping of the drop bottom II of the record reservoir I0. At this time also the dividing plates ac-ao, which are controlled by the crank as, which in turn is controlled according to movement of the cam G (Figures 8, l4 and 20), are in underlying relationship with the next to the bottom record in the reservoir III, so that at this time the bottom record in said reservoir 16 may slide out onto the platen 36. The means for arresting motion of the record I! which is moved onto the platen 33 and for centering said record, will now be described. By reference to Figures 2, 5, 6 and 8 it will be noted that four upstanding pins or members I34-l3l are provided, which pins extend upwardly through slots I35 in the base plate 3|. Said pins I33I34 are disposed at the outer extremities of links bearing the-numerals I36, I31, I33 and I33. Said links, at their inner extremities. are pivotally connected to an annular member I (Figures 2, 5 and 8), which annular member, as shown'in Figure 8, has a bearing upon a shoulder I. in the base plate 3i. It will be clear without detailed explanation that if a rotary movement is connnunicated to the annular member I in a 65 clockwise 'directionas the parts are viewed in Figure 5, the centering pins Isa-m willjbe drawn toward the axis of rotation of the platen 36. Conversely, a reverse movement of said an-- nular member ill will move said centering pins I34 outwardly. Rotary'movement-is communicated to said annular member I" by means of the link I42 (Figures.5, 6 and 7). The outer extremity of the link I4! is pivotally connected to the lever I43, which is fulcrumed to the plate 6| (Figs. 4, 6 and 8) By reference to Figure 4 'ticular record being centered upon the platen it will be clear that the lever I43 is bifurcated in the illustratedembodiment of the present invention at the part thereof which is fulcrumed to the plate 5i. Intermediate of its length the lever I43 carries the rotatable roller I, which roller is adapted to engage the periphery of cam C (Fig. 6). The lever I43 is urged in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6) by the action of a spring 5, which spring has one extremity connected to the link I42 and the other extremity thereof connected to a relatively fixed party of the mechanism. Said spring normally biases the annular member I" in a clockwisedirection as the parts are viewed in Figure 5, tending to move the centering pins I36 toward the axis oi'rotation of the platen 33. When a high part of the' cam C is in engagement with the roller I (Fig.

6), the centering pins I3l-I3l will be moved outwardly.

From an inspection of Figure 2 it will be noted that the links I36 and I3? are curved intermediate of their length, whereas the link I33 is straight and the link I33 is straight in that portion thereof between its corresponding centering pin I34 and-its point of pivotal connection with the annular member I40. It will be understood that the curvature in the links I36 and I31 is provided for the purpose of clearing one another. From an inspection of Figure 2 it will be noted that the link I3! is extended to form 'a' bent end portion I46, which end portion is provided with the setscrew I". Said setscrew is adapted to engage the side of the sound box 3| mounted upon the tone arm 96. It will be clear that as the centering pins are moved inwardly to center a-record upon the platen 33, said setscrew I," will, with the same movement, move the sound box 3| inwardly toward the axis of rotation of the platen 33 in correspondence with the par- 33. It will be clear that the cam C and its associated parts will be designed to move the centering pins I 34-I3l outwardly a suflicient distance to embrace the largest record intended to be used. The spring I is of sufliciently great length so that no difllculties are encountered in centering records of diiIerent sizes. a

With reference to the action of the setscrew I" in moving the sound box 3| to the starting position for the particular record being centered, it may be noted that there is, of course, a difierence in the margins of various records. The radial distance between the outer periphery of one recplaying needle to the playing groove. Such spiral introductory groove occupies sufllcient space radially of the record to take care oi difierences in the margin referred to in phonograph records found upon the market at the present time. It will'be that the parts will be so adiusted that the setscrew I" will move the sound box II to a position such that when the tone arm casting 33 has been tilted to allow the tone arm to descend to playing position, the needle I! of said sound box II will engage the playing groove or the spiral groove leading to the playing groovepon the record having the largest margin encountered in practice.

.As indicated above, the tone arm 33 and the parts'carried thereby arebalanced by the coun- Y terweight I62 (Figure 10) By reason of the coun- 7 v terweight I92 the playing needle 92 is relieved of adapted to pilot said pin into the socket I55 side pressure, whereby a clear note will be produced thereby uninfluenced by side pressure' against the sidewalls? the playing groove. If. preferred, howeverfthe counterweight I02 may or spiral groove leading thereto.

It may be stated at this time that the center pin 3 is lowered into the central hole of the record upon the platen 38 when said record is being held by the centering pins 'I34 I34, after which said centering pins I34-I34 are moved outwardly under the influence of cam C. The

' brake pads "42 are then allowed to lower by means of cam E, whereby they are freed from the under side of the platen 38 (said pads being normally biased out pf contact with said platen).

and allowing the platen clutch element 36 to which allows.the tone arm bracket 93 to tilt,

depressing the shelf I06 and allowing the needle- 92 to enter the groove of the record upon the platen 38. All of the above movements are ac.- complished by mechanism which has already been described.

The means for communicating power from the motor 32 to the various elements above recited and to other elements to be described hereinafter will now be referred to. By reference to Figures 3 and 8 it will be noted that the shaft of the motor 34 is provided with the driving spiral I49, which driving spiral I48 communicates movement to the driven spiral I49 (Figures '3 and 4), which driven spiral I49 is fast to the shaft I5II'; which has its bearing supported by the holdingplate 44 (Figure 4). Also fast upon the shait I50 is the worm I5I, which worm meshes with the worm wheel 61. Said worm wheel 51, as is clearly shown in Figure 4, is keyed to the sleeve 65, which sleeve, as mentioned above, has secured thereto the ratchet plate 54. Said sleeve 65 also has secured thereto the drum 66, which drum is provided with a spiral groove for a purpose which will be referred to presently. As mentioned above, the pawl mechanism 55 is adapted to establish a driving relationship between the ratchet disk 64 and the pawl disk 54, which pawl disk is rigid with the shaft 49. When the pawl mechanism 55 is in a position to clutch the ratchet disk 54 to the pawl disk 54, rotation of the motor 32 will communicate a, driving move- 7 ment to the pawl disk 54, whereby the cam groove B will be operative to control the tone arm bracket 93 (Figure 10) which in turn controls the lifting of the tone arm 90. Cam A, being rigid with-the shaft 49, will also be rotated, as will be the drum 55. Cam C is also rigid with the shaft 49. The sleeve 59, which carries cams E, F and G, is adapted to be pinned in cam E, which'cam is fixed relative to the sleeve 59. The spring-pressed pin I53.is controlled in response to mechanism which will be described presently.

As mentioned above, the present invention contemplates means for handling disk records manufactured by the various well known manufacturers. It is common to provide a special groove at'the inner terminus of the playinggroove, which special groove, through cooperation with the playing needle, guides the tone arm to a position or in a direction to stop the platen when the playing of the record has been completed.- This special groove in, some instances takes the form of a spiral.

In other instances it takes the form of an ellipse. Other .speciargrooves are found in practice. Still other records dov not have any special groove at the inner terminus of the playing groove. According to the present invention, as long as the motor 32 is in operation and while the pawl mechanism 55 is in position to maintain a driving relationship between the ratchet disk 64 and the pawl disk 54 (Figures 4; 5 and 12) turning movement will be communicated to the shaft 49 and the cams connected thereto. While the record is being played, this driving relationship is interrupted, but in order to stop the platen to discharge the playing record therefrom and to supply a new record to said platen from the reservoir I0, said shaft .49 and the cams driven thereby should be set in operation.

'The mechanism for controlling the pawl mechanism 55 will now be described. By reference to Figures 4 and 12, it will be noted that the'holding plate 44 provides a pivotal support for a lever I55, which lever I56 carries .a setscrew I5! adapted to underlie the portion 51 of the pawl mechanism 55. When the setscrew I5'I is in underlying relationship with the portion 51, the pawl mechanism 55 is held out of operative relationship with the ratchet disk 54. The

ment of the lever I in a'counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed inFigure 4 is limitedby means of the setscrew I58. By reference to Figures 10, '11 and 12 the mechanism for moving the lever I56 will be clear, it being noted that in Figure 11, set screw I 72 is shown broken away in ordento show set screw IBI. It will be noted thatthe tone arm bracket 93 carries the member I59, which member is rigidly attached to said tone arm bracket. The outer extremity of said member I59 is indicated by the numeral IGIZ; and is adapted to engage against the end of a setscrew IGI carried by the lever I55. It will be clear that when the tone arm for stopping the platen 38 in case the groove bracket 93 is swing in a clockwise direction as I in the spiral groove of said drum 6 6. It will'be' in'the record being played extends sufliciently close to the axis of rotation of said platen to cause the member I59 to move the lever I56. In certain records the groove does not extend sufficiently close to the axis of rotation of the platen 38 for this purpose, and auxiliary means are provided which include the drum 66, which, as noted above, is provided with a spiral groove in its periphery. The numeral I62 indicates a stylus bar, which is pivoted to a bracket I63 (Figures lilqand 11), which bracket is rigid with the base plate 3|. The stylus bar I62 is provided with the stylus I64 adapted to engage the spiral groove in the periphery of the drum 66. Said stylus bar I62 is capable of a swinging movement parallel to the axis of rotation of the drum 66 and is also capable of a slight swinging movement in a plane atright angles to the axis of rotation of said drum 66. The drum 66 with its spiral groove may be termed a spiral member and the stylus I64 may be termed a follower or follower member. Said stylus bar I62 is provided with the lateral extension I65, the extremity of which is adapted to be disposed upon the sill I66 of the bracket I61," which bracket is rigid with the base plate 3|. Said sill I66 presents the sloping surface I68 to the extremity of the lateral extension I65, whereby as said lateral extension is moved in a counter-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 11,- said lateral extension will ride up upon said sill I66. Said lateral extension I65 (see Figure 10) rides upon the upper surface of the adjacent .member I59 carried by the tone arm bracket '93. For the purpose of providing a guide for said lateral extension I65, said member I59 is provided with the portion I69 projecting beyond the extremity I66. By reference to Figure 10 it will be noted that the member I59 is provided with the shoulder I10 adapted to engage the. extremity pf the lateral extension I65, whereby the tone arm cast-' ing 93 in swinging about the axis of the rod 91 in a counter-clockwise direction will, by reason of the engagement of shoulder I16 with lateral extension I65, move said lateral extension I65 up upon the shelf I66 (Figure 12). The stylus bar-l62 is provided with the setscrew -I1I adapted to be engaged by the member I59 as the tone arm casting moves in a clockwise direction (Figure 11). It will be clear that when the tone arm casting 93 moves to a predetermined position in a clockwise direction (Figure 11) the stylus bar I62 will be moved in a clockwise direction whereby the lateral extension will be shoved from the sill I66 of the bracket I61. The drum 66 isso positioned that when the lateralextension I65 drops off the sill I66, the stylus I64 will engage remembered that the drum 66 is constantly rotated as long as the motor 32 is energized. Rotation of the drum 66 will positively move the stylus bar I62 in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 11. The lateral extension I65 of said stylus bar is disposed in such a posi-' 'tion .that it is adapted, to engage the setscrew I12 carried by .the lever I56 to swing said lever I56 to a position in which the setscrew I51- is re- ,moved from holding relationship with the memplaten 36. This action is accompanied by operation of cam E, which causes'swinging of the lifting levers 43 (Figure 6) to lift the platen 88, declutching same from the motor clutch element 35 (Fig. 6) and stopping rotation of said platen 38 by reason of the frictional engagement of pads 42-42 with the under side of said platen.

The mechanism by means of which the operator may reject any record and cause the automatic discharge thereof from the platen, followed by the supplying of a new record, will now be described.

By reference to Figures 1 and 4 it will be noted that a button I13 is provided, which button controls a rod I14. Said rod is spring-pressed'outwardly by means of the spring I 15 (Figs. 4 and 5). Said spring is illustrated as being a tension spring and has one of its extremities connected to a fixed abutment I16 rigid with the base plate 3I. The other extremity of said spring I15 is connected to a stud I11 rigid with the rod I14. Said abutment I16 forms a journal for slidably supporting the rod I14. Spaced from the abutment or journal I16 is another journal I18. The

inner extremity of the rod I 14 is flat on its upper extremity I8I, adaptedto contact with the lever I56 when the button I13 is pushed inwardly. It

will be clear that if said button I13 is pushed inwardly during the playing of a record, the lever I56 will be swung in a-clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 4,'removing the pin I51 from its underlying relationship with the member 51 forming part of the pawl mechanism 55, thereby clutching the ratchet plate 64 to the pawl 'disk 54 and inaugurating the cycle of or-the continued repetition of the playing of said record. The means for accomplishing this result is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 4, 6, 21, 22,25 and 26, as well as other figures of the drawings. It will be remembered that cam F controls the feed'of records successively from the reservoir 16 to the .playing platen 38, and that cam G operatesthe center pin of the playing platen and controls the means for separating the/records in the reservoir 10 preparatory to the supply of one of said records from said reservoir to the playing platen. The structure referred to contemplates means whereby cams F and G and the mechanisms controlled thereby may be rendered inoperative at the option of the operator. Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the numeral I82 indicates a turn button. Said turn button operates a rod I 88, the inner extremity of which is secured to the swinging plate I84 (Figs. 6, 21, 22, 25 and 26). Said rod I88 is provided adjacent to the turn button I82 with the indicating finger I85, which has three selectable positions, indicated in Figure 1 by the letters R, N and C; the letter R indicating the position for the single repetition of the playing of a record,'the letter N indicating the neutral position in which the normal operation device is permitted, and theletter C indicating '01 the neutral position. The-position of said plate for a single repetition of the playing of a record is defined by the pin I88, and the position of said plate I84 for the continued repetition of the playing of a record is defined by the pin- I81, It will be clear that when the plate I84 has been moved to the position for the single repetition of the playing of arecord, the eifect f gravity will be to hold said plate I84 in said position.

In order to releasably hold said plate in either neutral position or the position for the continued repetition of the playing of a record, said'indieating finger I85 is provided with an aperture or recess I88 adapted to receive the rounded head of a pin I98, mounted in the wall of the phonograph cabinet 25, for releasably holding the indicating finger I85 in neutral positon, or the correspondingly rounded head of an adjacent pin I9I for holding said-indicating finger in the position for causing the continued repetition of the playing of a record. Referring now particularly By reference to Figures 25 and leg I93 of said plate to Figure 4, it will be noted that the cam C is fast to the shaft '49, which shaft is caused to rotate when the pawl mechanism 55 has caused a clutching relationship between the'ratchet disk 84 and pawl disk 54. Said cam C is adapted to be pinned to the adjacent cam E by means of the-springpressed pin I 53 (Fig. 21). Said pin I 53 is provided with the outstanding 'stud I92 adapted to be controlled by theplate I 84 above referred to. 26 it will be noted that the swinging extremity of said plate I84 is bifurcated, the two legs thereof being" indi-'- cated by the numerals I93 and I94. The inner edge of the leg I93 is beveled at a relatively sharp angle, as indicated by the numeral I95. The edges of the leg I94 are beveled as indicated'by the numerals I98 and I91. When the plate I84 is swung, by means of the turn button I82, to position for a single repetition of the playing of a record, that is-to the position R in Figure 1, the beveled surface of the (Fig. 21), retracting the. spring-pressed bolt I53, thereby disconnecting cam E and sleeve 89 from driven relationship ,with the shaft 49.

means that when the ratchet plate 84 is clutched operation, said operations eration of the dividing plates 80-88.

V which is fast with thecam I operate with the rollerl98 to the axis ofthe roller 'to the pawl disk 54't'o cause the stopping of the platen 38,'the lifting of the tone arm 9i],v the swinging outwardly of said tonearm, and the depositin of the tone arm for the next playing will not be accom panied by the operations controlled by the cams E, F and the cam G, na ely, the lifting of the platen 38 to record discharging position, the feeding of a new recordfrom the reservoir 18, the operation of thecenterpin I I3 and the op- At this point it may be noted thatthe cam D;

C, is adapted to co- I39. .Said roller I98 has its axis fixed relative I29, also carried by the I98 is engaged by the lever I381 Said roller at a lesser angle,

I 84 will engage-the stud I92 This carried by the lever cam D as the cam Crotates and swings the lever I38 in a clockwise direction a sufficient distance to raise the platen 38 to an intermediate position,

sumcient to cause the declutching of the clutch elements 35 and 38, (Fig. 6), to stop rotation of the platen 38. By reason of the stoppage of' the platen 38 there is nointerference between the record. upon said platen 38 and the centering pins I34-I34. As'the ,cam C rotates, the stud I92 will be carried out of engagement with the leg I93 of the plate I84,'and, being biased by the spring I54, will be operative to'snap into the recess I55 in the camE when said pin I53 comes into registry with said socket I55. Figure 25 illustrates part of a the orbit of the stud I92 and shows diagrammatically the relation of the pin I53 and socket I55. As the pin I53 travels in itsrorbit due to the rotation of cam C, the stud I92 will strike the beveled edge I95 of the leg I93. Inasmuch as said beveled edge is relatively steep, the net'ei fect will be to swing the. pin I 84 in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figure 25, moving the leg I93 out -of position to again retract the pin' I53, and allowing said pin to snap into socket I55, whereby the sleeve 69 and the cams E, F and G movable therewith will beoperative upon the next succeeding operation of cam C.

Referring now to the structure for causing the continued repetition of the playing of a record,

such an operation will be responsive to the action position -C (Fig. 1). This action will cause the swinging of the plate I84 in a clockwise direction as the parts are viewed in Figures 6 and 25, causof the operator in moving the turn button to the ing the beveled edge I98 of the leg I94 to engage Y the stud I 92, resulting in the retraction of the pin,l53 (Fig. 21), disconnecting cam E (together with sleeve 89 and cams F and G) from cam C. As indicated above, the indicating finger I85 will hold the cam plate I84 releasably in the position referred to. The result is that each time the cam C is caused to rotate, the stud I92 connected to the spring-pressed pin I53 will ride up over the beveled edge I91 of the leg I94 of the plate I 84, rotation of the plate in a clockwise direction (Figs. 2 and 25) being limited by the pin I87. Under these conditions the sleeve 89 operative, whereby there will be no discharging of the played record from the platen nor delivery of a new record from'the reservoir I0. --Not until the operator moves the tur'n'button I82 to neutral position or to the position for a single repetition (that is-position R) can the pin I53 find its way into the socket I55 to connect cams E, F

after the tone arm has been automatically de-. posited in playing position, the playing of the inserted record will be begun.

In outlining the mode of operation of the above described instrumentalities, reference may be had to Figure 27, which illustrates a representative cycle of operation of the cam shaft or master control member 49. For the purpose of this dewith its cams E, F and G will be rendered inaction is followed shortly (when position disthe dividing plates 80-83 are out of cooperative scription, a cycle may be said to have been completed when the. pawl mechanism 55 is moved out of cooperative relationship with the ratchet disk 54. At this time, assuming that the motor 32 is operating, said motor is, through the power transmitting mechanism above described, driving the sleeve 65 and the ratchet disk 64. A new cycle may be said to start when the pawl mechanism 55- Starting from the instant at which driving relationship is established between said ratchet disk 64 and the pawl disk 54, and assuming a clockwise direction of rotation as the diagram in Figure 27 is viewed, it will be noted that after the cam shaft 43 has rotated through a small angle to the position I), the tone arm 90 starts to rise.- This reached) by the action ofthe pads 42-.42 in lifting the platen 38, which movement has a braking action. At this time and for succeeding portions of the cycle of movement of the cam shaft 43,

relationship'with the records in the reservoir I0, so that the pile of records within said reservoir rests upon the drop bottom' ll of said reservoir; The outermost positions of the dividing plates 80-.83 are attained when cam shaft 43 reaches position d. After the cam shaft 43 has rotated still further to position 6, the tone arm 33 will have reached its fully raised'position and will have started its outward movement. After further rotation of the cam shaft 43 to position i, the center pin H3 starts up. After still further rotation of the cam shaft 4! to. position 9', the platen will have been raised to the limit of its movement, which in a practical embodiment of the present invention amounts to a total raise of of an inch. At this time the center pin H3 is fully up. After this a period of dwell is allowed, whereby the played record may slide out from the platen 38'into the storage space 30. Still further rotation of the cam shaft 43 to positionv It results in the starting downwardly of the bottom plate 'II of the reservoir 10 and allows the platen 38 to drop to an intermediate position, which in a practical embodiment of the present invention has been chosen as s of an inch below its fully raised position, which is to say;; of an inch above itsnormal playing position. Under these conditions the pads 42-42 have a braking action to prevent any rotation of the platen 38. At this time, moreover, the clutching relationship is broken between the clutch elements 35 and 36. After further rotation of the cam shaft 49 to position 1', the dividing plates 8030 will have been moved inwardly to a position to underlie the next to the bottom record upon the drop bottom H of the reservoir 10. The drop bottom Ii will be open at this time and the record below the dividing plates 80-40 will slide downwardly from the reservoir 10 to the platen 38. In sliding onto the platen, the record from the reservoir 10 will engage the centering pins l34l34 at the low side of the platen 38, inasmuch as said platen 38 is now in a somewhat lowered position, that is-f; of an inch below its fully raised position. The record sliding from the reservoir 'lfl'will clear the centering pins i34l34 at the top side of.

the platen 38, inasmuch as the reservoir 13 is in raised position (by virtue of the feet 13-"). After the cam shaft 49 has rotated through a slightly greater angle to position a the centering pins l34-l34 start to'close, centering the new record upon the platen 33. At the same time the center pin 3 starts downwardly. Said center pin. H3 has a piloting extremity, whereby it will cooperate with the centering pins 134-434 in centering the record.

-After further rotation of thecam shaft 45 to position 1:, the bottom plate I! ,of the reservoir "will be moved upwardly, and after another increment of movement of said. cam shaft 45 to position 1, the tone arm 30 starts down. After another increment of rotation of the cam shaft 43 to position 111., the centering pins |34|34 will him their innermost positions for the particular record being centered and the center pin H3 will be down in operative position. As explained above, the relatively long spring I45 will permit the centering of various sizes of record by the centering pins |34-|34. After a'short period of dwell, indicated in the diagram as being about 10 degrees of movement of the camshaft 49, ia.

when cam shaft reaches position 11, the centering pins l34-l34 start outwardly. After the cam shaft 43 has reached position 0, said centering pins l34--I34 will be fully out, and after a further increment of movement of the cam shaft 43 to position p the platen will be allowed to descend another 1 of an inch to its normal playing position, in which theclutching elements 35 and 36 are inoperative relationship with each other. At

this time also the pads 42-42, being biased downwardly, are out of braking relationship with said platen 33. The platen is now in operation with a record thereon ready to be played. After another increment of movement of the cam shaft 43 to position q, the tone arm 93 is allowed to descend, depositing the needle 32 of the reproducer 3| within the outermost extremity of the play g groove of said record, or within the spiral groove leading to said playing groove. The playing of the record is thus inaugurated. After another small increment of rotation of the cam shaft 43 to the starting position a the pawl mechanism 49 is moved out of cooperative relationship with the ratchet disk 54, whereby the driving relationship between said ratchet disk 64 and the pawl disk 54 is interrupted. The playing of the record will continue until the tone arm 90 or the stylus bar I62 has been moved toward the axis of rotation of the platen 38 a sufficient distance to again release the pawl mechanism 55, or until said pawl mechanism has been released by move-.'

ment of the-rejecting mechanism operated by the button H3. Either of these operations will start a new cycle.

Referring to Figure 1, the numeral I93 indicates a switch operating member for controlling the energization of the motor 32, the numeral I93 indicates a volume control and the numeral 200 indicates a speed control for said motor 32.

The operation of the instrumentalities for carrying out the cycle above outlined will now be I, described. Starting out at the same point at .which the discussion of Figure 27 was started,

let it be assumed that the motor 32 is energised, which, through the' driving spiral I38, driven spiral I39, shaft l5ll,worm |5l and worm wheel 61, drives the sleeve 85, which sleeve has fast thereto the ratchet disk 64. The pawl disk 54 adjacent to said ratchet disk 64 carries the pawl mechanism 55, which, while the record is being played, is held out of cooperative relationship with the ratchet disk 64 by means of the setscrew' 151 (Fig.4) carried by theleverjSS. Under these conditions, therefore, the pawl disk 54 and the 

